Custer County Board of Health approves vault variance for Applewood Living Trust parcel in Westcliff

Custer County’s Board of Health voted to approve a vault-style septic-system variance for a parcel held by the Applewood Living Trust during a special meeting on Feb. 3, 2026, at the Search and Rescue Building in Westcliff.

Zoning Director Delana Crawford told the board the variance request was submitted after an ASAP soil analysis and said the parcel is “under half an acre,” meaning it is too small for a conventional complete septic system. Crawford summarized the request as allowing a vault-style system to be installed near a small lake on the property and identified Mountain Valley Excavating and an individual, Cody Bossie, as the contractor expected to do the installation. Crawford said, “They’re requesting that we allow them to put a vault.”

Chairman F moved to approve the variance, citing the application for Brenda Bosse of the Applewood Living Trust and referencing a County Road 251, Westcliff location (the meeting record lists the street number inconsistently). A member seconded the motion; the transcript does not clearly attribute which person provided the second. The chair called the vote; the recorded responses were Paul: “Aye,” (the record reads) Cand: “Aye,” and Lucas: “Aye.” The motion passed on the recorded ayes.

Board members asked whether the proposed installation would be in a wetland or have floating water beneath it. Crawford responded that the installation would not be in the lake itself and stated, “Not the lake … the lake is blocked,” while acknowledging proximity of a wet area. The record includes references to Lot 8 and Lot 1 in the property description.

The meeting lasted roughly four minutes from the chair’s call-to-order at 8:32 a.m. to adjournment at about 8:36 a.m. No public commenters spoke on the item during the meeting.

The board did not record a formal follow-up schedule or additional conditions in the meeting record; the variance was approved and the board adjourned.